PORTABLE, BATTERY OPERATED AIR PUMP

Abstract: A mechanically simply battery operated air pump for one hand operation comprises a battery (1), a motor (2), a gear (3), a cylinder/piston pump (4), and a nozzle (5). The battery, the motor, the gear, and the cylinder/piston pump are arranged end to end in order to provide a pump structure tapering against the nozzle (5). The gear (3) is constituted by a pinion (10) rotating around an axis (11) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (12) of the pump whereas a driven wheel (13) rotates around an axis (15) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (12) of the pump. The cylinder/piston pump (4) is arranged for a connecting rod movement with rotation around an axis (24) being parallel to the axis of rotation (15) for the driven wheel (10). The nozzle (5) is arranged concentric around the axis (15), and accordingly, it may be fastened directly on said cylinder (21). The motor (2) drives the cylinder/piston pump (4) through the gear (3) in a connecting rod movement whereby the piston (20) is displaced in the cylinder (21) in order to establish an overpressure within the cylinder (21). Preferably, the pump is intended for bicycles, however, it could also be used for other purposes.

Description: PORTABLE, BATTERY OPERATED AIR PUMP. Background of the invention. The present invention relates to a portable, battery operated air pump, preferably for bicyles, and comprising a battery power supplying a motor which through a gear activates a pump mechanism which is con¬ nected with an air nozzle intended for engagement with an air valve in the subject to be inflated. A desire exists for a pump of the above-mentioned type which is com- pact and which may be brought on bicycles, on camping and for other purposes. Pumps of the above type are known from e.g. US Patent No. 5,127,808. Even though this known pump is rather compact and is able to be brought for use independent of an external power supply it has a radial dimension which is relatively large. Thus the orientation of the toothed wheel around a axis being parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pump contributes to the relatively large radial dimension of the pump. Moreover, the pump is disadvantageous in that it is ra¬ ther complicated and consists of a large number of specialized indivi¬ dual parts. Moreover, the pump is disadvantageous as it may not be used for one hand operation. Thus the nozzle is affixed to the com¬ pressor of the pump through a flexible air hose. It is the object of the present invention to provide a pump of the above-mentioned type and which overcomes the disadvantages associated with the known pump, in that it is made by mechanically, simple ele¬ ments and may be operated by one hand only. According to the present invention this is obtained with a pump being characterized in that the elements are arranged end to end in order to provide an elongated flat unit having a tapering end, that the pump mechanism consists of a cylinder/piston pump which is pivotally sup¬ ported in the tapering end and the end of the cylinder being arranged opposite the piston rod, that the piston pump is arranged for pivoting around a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to a longi- tudinal axis through the air pump, that the nozzle is mounted directly onto the cylinder and extends concentric around said pivot axis, and that the piston rod is rotatably supported near the circumference of a driven wheel which rotates around an axis parallel with the pivot axis and which together with a small pinion constitute said gear, said pi- nion rotates around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pump. Seeing that the elements consitute an elongated and preferably taper- ing unit, the nozzle arranged at the tapering end may easily be brought into contact with an air valve, e.g. for a wheel on a bicycle. The pump may be held and activated by one hand. The switching means of the pump will preferably be intended for operation by the user's thumb which simultaneously presses the nozzle against the valve. The cylin- der/piston pump is a mechanically, simple and in-expensive unit. As the cylinder is pivotally supported around an axis being common with the nozzle, it is possible to make the tapering end very narrow where¬ by the use is made easier. Moreover, the structure is mechanically simple as it is possible optionally to fixate the nozzle directly onto the cylinder or on a house in which the elements of the pump are con¬ tained. The limited pivotally rotation of the nozzle will be absorbed either by a rubber sleeve in the nozzle or by a flexible tube connect¬ ing the nozzle and the cylinder. The used connecting rod movement which is established by the activa¬ tion of the piston rod of the rotating driven wheel is mechanically simple and reliable. Advantageously, the gear may consist of toothed wheels, however, it may also consist of friction wheels. In case toothed wheels are used it might be of the type which function accord- ing to the principle as a crown wheel and a driving pinion. At the backside of the crown wheel or a friction roller (should read "wheel" translator's remark) it is possible, with due regard to the stability, to arrange a roller opposite the driving friction wheel or the driving pinion. Brief description of the drawing. Other embodiments will occur from the independent claims. The inven¬ tion will now be further explained with due regard to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a partial view seen from the side of a pump according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows a partial view seen according to the arrow II in Fig. 1. The Figs, show a battery 1, a motor 2, a gear 3, a cylinder/piston pump 4, and a nozzle 5. For the sake of clarity a house for the pump has been omitted. A switch 6 is for the sake of convenient illustration shown in a posi¬ tion in the vicinity of the battery 1. In practice it is preferred to arrange two switches, viz. a spring loaded switch and an on-off switch at the side of the house in a position opposite the nozzle 5 and being arranged for being activated by the user's thumb, said user would si- multaneously use the thumb to press the nozzle 5 against an air valve. The elements 2,3,4, and 5 are mounted on a common base plate 7. Due to stability this base plate 7 may be manufactured from profiled alumi¬ nium. The battery 1 is arranged loosely in the house of the pump, how- ever, it may also be affixed to the base plate 7. The motor 2 is af¬ fixed to the base plate 7 through two straps 8 and nuts 9. A driving toothed wheel 10 is mounted on a motor shaft 10' and rotates around an axis 11 extending substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis 12 for the pump. The toothed wheel 10 drives a second toothed wheel 13 which in principle corresponds to a crown wheel, whereas the toothed wheel 10 corresponds to a driving pinion. The crown wheel 13 is sup¬ ported on a pin 14 which is affixed to the base plate 7 in order to rotate around an axis 15 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 12 of the pump. The crown wheel and the driving pinion 10,13 con- stitute the gear 3 of the pump. A support roller 16 is arranged at the backside of the crown wheel 10 (should read "13", translator's remark) in order to ensure that said wheel is not driven awry. It is possible to arrange a number of evenly distributed support rollers in order to provide the best possible sup¬ port of the crown wheel 10 (should read "13", translator's remark). A pivot pin 17 is arranged on the crown wheel 10 (should read "13", translator's remark) in the vicinity of the circumference thereof in order to support one end 18 of a piston rod 19, which at the other end supports a piston 20. The piston 20 is arranged in a cylinder 21. At the other end arranged oppositely the piston rod 19, the cylinder 21 is supported on a pin 23 for pivoting around an axis 24 extending per¬ pendicular to the longitudinal axis 12 of the pump and parallel with the axis of rotation 15 for the crown wheel 10 (should read "13", translator's remark) . The nozzle 5 is directly connected with cylinder 21 and extends con¬ centric around the pivot axis 24. The connection 25 between the nozzle and the cylinder may be a rigid connection or a flexible connection in form of a rubber tube. The small back and forward pivotally movement, which in use will occur between the nozzle 5 and the co-operating air valve, may be absorbed by the connection 25 or by a rubber sleeve ar¬ ranged in the opening 26 of the nozzle 5. In case a flexible connec- tion 25 is used, the nozzle may be firmly mounted in the house of the pump. In case a rigid connection 25 is used, the nozzle will extend through an opening in the house of the pump. The pump, which may be manufactured with very limited outer di en- sions, will be manufactured with a very small height in relation to the diameter 10 (this reference should be omitted, translator's re¬ mark) of the wheel 10 (this should read "13", translator's remark), especially due to the arrangement of the driven wheel 10 (this should read "13", translator's remark) for rotation around an axis perpendi- cular to the longitudinal axis of the pump. The diameter 10 (this re¬ ference should be omitted, translator's remark) will be determining for the width of the pump. In practice the pump may be manufactured with dimensions as stated in claim 10 (this should read "7", transla¬ tor's remark). In use the motor 2, upon activation of the switch 6, drives the toothed wheel 10 which drives the toothed wheel 13. Hereby the cylin¬ der/piston pump 4 is driven through a connecting rod movement hereby displacing the piston 20 in the cylinder 21 in order to create an overpressure inside the cylinder 21. The pump may be held in one hand and the nozzle 5 is pressed against an air valve either by the user's thumb or simply by pressing the pump unit against the air valve.

Claims: C L A I S. 1. Portable, battery operated air pump, preferably for bicyles, and comprising a battery power supplying a motor which through a gear ac- tivates a pump mechanism which is connected with an air nozzle intend¬ ed for engagement with an air valve in the subject to be inflated, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the elements are arranged end to end in order to provide an elongated flat unit having a tapering end, that the pump mechanism consists of a cylinder/piston pump which is pivo- tally supported in the tapering end and the end of the cylinder being arranged opposite the piston rod, that the piston pump is arranged for pivoting around a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis through the air pump, that the nozzle is mounted directly onto the cylinder and extends concentric around said pivot axis, and that the piston rod is rotatably supported near the circum¬ ference of a driven wheel which rotates around an axis parallel to the pivot axis and which together with a small pinion constitute said gear, said pinion rotates around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pump. 2. Pump according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said gear comprises two toothed wheels working according to the principle of a crown wheel and a driving pinion, and that a support roller is arranged on the backside of the crown wheel in a position opposite said driving pinion. 3. Pump according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said support roller is a rubber roller. 4. Pump according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the motor, the gear wheel and the cylinder/piston pump have been mounted on a common base plate, preferably consisting of a profiled aluminium plate. 5. Pump according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the nozzle is fixed in a house for the pump and is connected with the cylinder through a flexible tube. 6. Pump according to any of the claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the nozzle is fixed onto the cylinder and may rotate in rela¬ tion to a house for the pump. 7. Pump according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the driven wheel has a diameter of between 70 and 90 mm, that the cylinder has a length of between 60 and 80 mm and a dia¬ meter of between 15 and 30 mm, that the pump unit has a total length of between 250 and 300 mm and a transverse dimension of between 80 and 100 mm and a height of between 40 and 60 mm. 8. Pump according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the battery is re-chargeable. 9. Pump according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the pump may be activated by means of two different switches, one switch is arranged for continuously activating in order to power supply the motor, and the other switch is of the type which alternating switch on and off the circuit for power supplying the mo¬ tor. 10. Pump according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the gear is constituted by a frictional gearing.

Inventors: BOUTRUP MORTEN, SOERENSEN PETER EGELUND, BOUTRUP, MORTEN, SOERENSEN, PETER, EGELUND
Applicants: BOUTRUP MORTEN, SOERENSEN PETER EGELUND, BOUTRUP, MORTEN, SOERENSEN, PETER, EGELUND
Application year: 1994
Main classification: F04B17
IPC codes: F04B9, F04B19, F04B35